Who should manage your social media presence? Remember, you get what you pay for.

By Heather Ripley

The most successful franchises are all about return on investment. On the corporate side, years are spent developing the perfect business model and fine-tuning the back-office systems that provide the best value to franchise owners.

It’s 2018. “Doing digital” is no longer an option. The question is now how much of our budgets to dedicate to digital. I’m now in my 20th year of helping franchisors and franchisees with marketing, and there are some clear best practices that both parties can follow to get the most out of their digital marketing.

Reduce your risks and work with an industry-dedicated insurance company

to safeguard against natural and man-made disasters.

By Bill Strout

Hurricane Harvey. Delivery driver accidents. California wildfires. So much puts franchises at peril, yet so few business owners have the time to properly research and safeguard their investments against these risks.

Luckily, there are insurance companies with a focus on franchises that are extremely familiar with these dangers and the best way for franchise owners to protect against them, or at least minimize their impact. Here are tips and checklists to help you protect yourself.

Franchisees are a popular target for hackers. Here are steps you can take

to thwart an attack.

By Saylor Frase

Many franchise organizations have hundreds, or even thousands of locations around the world, all with varying degrees of sensitive customer information. Criminals make franchisees a high priority because of brand visibility and the fact that franchise locations typically don’t have the same resources – budgets, expertise and technologies – invested in their security efforts as do corporate franchisors. Hackers hunt for the weakest link in the highest-value target, and unfortunately, franchisees fits the bill.

Franchisors and franchisees must understand their roles in avoiding the sexual harassment firestorm.

Training is the important first step.

By Rob Basso

The fallout from the Harvey Weinstein scandals as well as the #MeToo movement have had far-reaching repercussions beyond Hollywood and into everyday business operations, including within franchises across the United States.

While the workplace sexual harassment controversy highlights a significant and long-existing problem, the end-result for women and workers is positive. Shining a light on unreported instances of sexual harassment, which should never have occurred, also demonstrates the exposure and risk faced by unprepared businesses, including franchisees. Questions also arise as to the role and responsibility of franchisors and what to do regarding recent changes to laws and rules relating to the move away from co-employment for operators.